Knee decisions — 2008

The Board remands the claim for a right knee disability to obtain additional evidence and schedule an appropriate VA examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for residuals of a right total knee arthroplasty was remanded to the Board for further development, including providing VCAA notice and scheduling a new VA examination.

The veteran's right and left knee status post-total knee replacement are manifested by pain, limitation of motion, and limitation of function; but there is no evidence of limitation of extension to 30 degrees or more or chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity.

The Board denied service connection for sinus allergies/allergic rhinitis and higher initial ratings for hemorrhoids, tinea corporis eczema/rashes, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The appeal is remanded for further development, including a more current examination to determine the severity of the veteran's left knee disability and consideration of extraschedular entitlement.

The case is remanded to the RO for scheduling of a hearing due to the veteran's request.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disability were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right knee meniscus tear, and bilateral anterior lenticonus as the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the left knee disability prior to February 10, 2007, and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for both the right and left knees as well as the mitral valve disability.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, bilateral knee disability and bilateral ankle disability as they were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may such be presumed.

The appeal must be further developed before determining whether a higher initial rating is warranted for the claims at issue.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability and PTSD, but found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain, discogenic disease.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD, bilateral tinnitus, cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, sleep apnea, left ear hearing loss, and service connection for hypertension and post concussion syndrome with headaches and short term memory loss were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder as there was no credible evidence of such a condition during or within one year after her military service, and no competent evidence linking it to her service.

The Board denied service connection for depression, a deviated septum, and a right knee disability as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the veteran's military service or secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a back disability, are being remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The appeal must be remanded due to a superseding change in the law and for further evidentiary development.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder as it was not incurred in or aggravated by the veteran's military service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The Board also found that the schedular criteria were not met for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis in the right knee.